SP Sprint - 7 December 2022

SNAITH COULD BE JAMMING ON SUNDAY

Chase Liebenberg

We’re Jamming seen winning the Sophomore Sprint last time – he carries just 52kgs on Sunday and the stable is bullish

Cover Image Chase Liebenberg captured the closing stages of the 2022 WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, with Make It Snappy (Louis Mxothwa) leading the stampede

As part of the refurbishment of the new Cape summer speed programme, the Gr2 Merchants will be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, with the stake upped handsomely from R175 000 last year to R450 000.

As part of an overhaul of the entire feature race programme down South, the Southeaster Sprint was moved to October, with the new Bantry Bay Sprint run last month.

Previously the Merchants was run in November and that meant a massive gap to the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship at the end of January. The speed pinnacle

of the summer, the Cape Flying Championship boasts a terrific speed honour roll down the years and enjoys a 25% stake hike to R1.25 million in 2023.

Sunday’s field has attracted a capacity field of 20 runners, with Justin Snaith’s recent Sophomore Sprint winner We’re Jamming looking an attractive proposition off the 52kg mark with Grant van Niekerk in the saddle.

The Bortz aquamarine flag was in the feature winner’s enclosure last Saturday with Navy Strength producing a career peak showing to win the Cape Summer Stayers and there could be more good fortune for the boss and his partner Gina Godlsmith.

The Snaith team told the Sporting Post that the 3yo is back over a trip

he relishes and his last win was impressive.

“He is spot on and will run well again. And he is particularly well-weighted. He will right in the shakeup,” Jono Snaith said on Wednesday.

There is only one WSB Cape Town Met entrant in the line-up. Piet Steyn’s Gem King returns from a belowpar effort in the Winter Derby and after his 24 week break and looking for much further, he will just be out for a stretch.

The feature is off at 16h07.

The first of eight races is off at 12h30.

Past and present trainers of We're Jamming, Justin Snaith and Piet Steyn - both are represented in Sunday's feature

Chase Liebenberg

GRAND HERITAGE ON SATURDAY

After Stone Cold upset the applecart at 40-1 to win the bumper field event last year, a full field of 28 runners will go to post at the Vaal on Saturday 10 December for the seventh renewal of the R500 000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage

The Non-Black Type contest is unique in a number of ways.

It is the only race in South Africa to field more than 20 horses and it is also run over the unusual distance of 1475m up the Vaal straight.

It is also the only event that limits

the top-end of the merit rating to 106.

The feature is off at 15h35.

The first of nine races is off at 12h10.

Chase Liebenberg

HOLLYWOOD’S DREAM DAY!

HOLLYWOOD’S DAY!

A delighted Louis Mxothwa salutes as Make It Snappy runs out an easy winner of the Gr1 feature

On a fairytale afternoon for the nationally competitive Hollywood Syndicate, the thrilled team celebrated a maiden Gr1 success alongside an elated jockey Louis Mxothwa, when the lightly raced Ridgemont Highlands-bred Dynasty filly Make It Snappy went all the way to win the R1 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas at a sunny Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Saturday 3 December 2022 in the Mother City

is a long road from Durban on 3 March 2002, when the purple and yellow team marked their first winner as Splendid Night won a Maiden Plate at what is now Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Over twenty years down the line, the Hollywood name has grown to become a leading player on the South African horseracing landscape, and who could have scripted that the first Gr1 of the inaugural Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing would be won by them?

In a typically high quality renewal of a race steeped in excellence and tradition, Varsfontein flyer

Ciao Bella, a recent winner of the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, maintained her position at the top of the boards, with interest in a handful of other contestants, including the Hollywood Syndicate duo from the Brett Crawford yard.

With Louis Mxothwa opting to ride recent Summer Bowl winner Make It Snappy, the daughter of Dynasty had her supporters and did it the hard way as she was taken to the lead from the break.

Kicking again in the final

The winning team lead Make It Snappy in

Chase Liebenberg

stages as the inevitable challenge came from the accomplished favourite Ciao Bella (9-4), Make It Snappy (6-1) showed no signs of stopping as she ran all the way to the wire to hold the grey Snaith filly to 1,50 lengths in a time of 99,71 secs.

Glen Kotzen and his patrons Drakenstein Stud would have been thrilled by the run of the poorly drawn 50-1 shot Hold My Hand, one of two representatives of Gold Standard, who charged out of the pack to run third, ahead of fellow Gold Standard daughter Golden Hostess (5-1) in fourth.

Stablemate to the winner, and fellow Hollywood Syndicate flagbearer Happy Chance (14-1) was not disgraced in fifth.

A broadly smiling Louis Mxothwa said that he committed to lead: “She pricked her ears into the final stages and I saw Ciao Bella and Richard (Fourie) out of the corner of my eye. I can’t believe winning a Gr1 is this easy – when you have the horse! Well done to Brett Crawford and his team, the Ridgemont Highlands team and the Hollywood Syndicate!” he enthused.

Brett Crawford, who was saddling his third Cape Fillies Guineas winner after Bad Girl Runs (2005 for Plattner Racing) and Front And Centre (2018 for Ridgemont Highlands), labelled it ‘a text book ride’ by Mxothwa.

Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech, who actually found himself screaming the winner home, said that the syndicate’s milestone success was in large part thanks to the Kieswetter family, and Clinton

Binda, who had brought the teams to the table, originally.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, from whom she is leased for racing, the winner is by late champion Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the beautifully-bred Western Winter mare, Icy Winter Air. This was Dynasty’s third Cape Fillies Guineas victory after Just Sensual (2016) and Front And Centre (2018). The latter was bred by and raced in the Ridgemont Highlands silks.

Make It Snappy, who raced off a rating of 100 despite running to a 114 at her last start, is a winner of 3 races with 1 place from her 4 starts for stakes of R764 475.

Hollywood Syndicate Manager Anthony Delpech hugs his wife Candice

BLOOD WILL OUT!

Blood will out. Dynasty filly Make It Snappy lived up to her classic pedigree with a commanding, all the way victory in last weekend's Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas in what was just her fourth start.

In the process, she became a landmark first Gr1 winner for both the Hollywood Syndicate and jockey Luyolo Mxothwa.

Bred at Ridgemont Highlands, Make It Snappy joined Just Sensual and

Front And Centre as the third Cape Fillies Guineas winner for the farm's late supreme stallion Dynasty, who for good measure,

Considering that Make It Snappy is a member of his final crop, the former Horse of the Year is certainly going out with a bang!

also featured as the broodmare sire of runner-up Ciao Bella.

Make It Snappy's roots trace back to 1988, when former Summerhill supremo Mick Goss imported the ten-year-old French mare Laughing Music. Purchased at the dispersal sale of horses owned by American oil billionaire and leading owner/breeder Nelson Bunker Hunt, this onceraced daughter of Luthier was already the dam of two

Make It Snappy (Louis Mxothwa) leads the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas stampede

stakes performers when she arrived at Summerhill. When mated to resident stallion Northern Guest, she duly produced a filly named Nordic Air and as Mick recalls: "We sent her to Mike Azzie, but she never won. She was very fast and placed before going wrong."

Returned to her birthplace, Nordic Air became the dam of seven winners, amongst which the Jallad filly Icy Air.

Mick elaborates: "As she was a December foal, we didn't sell her at the Nationals. We kept her for the Ready To Run Sale where she was bought by the Alexanders."

Icy Air proved a veritable racing machine, so much so

that she was named the Champion Classic Female in a stellar threeyear-old season which yielded Gr2 victories in the SA Oaks and Gold Circle Oaks, the SA Fillies Classic and Woolavington Stakes (both now Gr1’s), no mean feat, considering she dented the reputations of subsequent Gr1 winners Jamaica, Night Diva, and Battle Maiden. She trained on to win nine races and had the distinction of finishing second in the Gr1 J&B Met when beaten half a length by Sean Tarry-trained Alastor, with Horse of the Year Winter Solstice a similar margin back in third.

Acquired by the late Mike Rattray, Icy Air's efforts on the track were matched by her performance as a broodmare. She did sterling duty for Lammerskraal Stud and never missed a beat, producing no less than twelve foals in as many years. Remarkably, six of her nine winners

earned black type, two of which were stakes winners, and she can also lay claim to producing a Gr1 winner in Champion Sprinter Russet Air.

He was the result of Icy Air's mating to champion What A Winter in his second season, the next best option to his own sire Western Winter, who had died a year before. As Lammerskraal's former manager Sally Bruss recalled: "Russet Air had the worst front legs you could ever imagine. Brian Finch bought him off the farm and everybody thought he was crazy."

Despite his crooked legs, the gelding could run and earned himself an Equus award with victories in both the Gr1 Cape Flying

Championship and Gr2 Cape Merchants.

As for Western Winter, he was a regular consort to Icy Air, two such unions resulting in the stakesplaced duo Izora and Icy Winter Air, who would become the dam of Make It Snappy.

A ‘deep, athletic’ filly, Icy Winter Air was sold as a yearling, and she duly joined the Joey Ramsden stable. While she only raced five times for the partnership of Kathy Finch and Belinda Kieswetter, she retired to stud a winner, with the added bonus of a third place in the Gr2 SA Fillies

Nursery behind her name. Icy Winter Air's excellent start in the paddocks has eclipsed her efforts on the track, in addition to which she has emulated her dam as a Gr1 producer, and with just her second foal!

Her first foal, the Duke Of Marmalade filly Nippy Sweetie, scored five times and is back at Ridgemont Highlands, safely in foal to Canford Cliffs. The champion miler is also sire of Icy Winter Air's juvenile filly, and a yearling colt. Ridgemont Highlands manager Craig Carey confirmed she has a ‘very smart’ Gimmethegreenlight filly at foot and has again been covered by the Varsfontein champion.

Needless to say, the sky looks the limit for her seriously talented, Gr1 winning Make It Snappy, who has come a long way since losing her maiden tag just two months ago and has now won three in a row.

Proud Hollywood racing manager Anthony Delpech remarked: "We haven't decided what's next for her, she's currently enjoying life in the paddock."

BONJI’S MAKING ALL THE RIGHT CALLS

Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech after the big win

Chase Liebenberg

When Anthony Delpech walked through the doors of the SA Jockey Academy forty years ago alongside the likes of Anton Marcus, Marthinus Mienie, Mark Khan and Frikkie Vermaak, he couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams that the circle of life would one day see him as a spectator and Racing Manager cheering a Grade 1 winner on from the grandstand with tears in his eyes.

“Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth was amazing. I rode my share of Gr1 winners around the world. But boy oh boy, this was lump-in-the-throat special for me –as it was for all of us involved in the Hollywood Syndicate. We

have winners most weeks – I never show emotion. But when Make It Snappy kicked again at the 200m, I started screaming and hitting my racecard against the rail. I had to check myself for a brief moment!” he laughs.

Anthony Clet Delpech was born in the Seychelles on 10 February 1969. The family moved to Durban when he was 13 and becoming a jockey sounded like a good excuse to escape school. Just shows, it’s often not how we start, it’s how we finish!

He recalls riding his last Gr1 winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Nightingale for Mary Slack and Candice Bass-Robinson in the 2017 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, and was still on a high after Make It Snappy’s thundering end-to-end victory in the World Sports Betting

Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas 48 hours earlier.

The Sporting Post caught up with him on Monday after a visit with his family to the world-class Ridgemont facility out at Wellington.

“It’s funny how life works. I could never have imagined fulfilling an administrative or management role. I was only ever a jockey and that’s all I ever wanted to be. But life changes, as it did so drastically for me in April 2018 with the accident. I don’t think Owen Heffer realises exactly what he did for me, and for my family, when he gave me the opportunity to become the Hollywood Syndicate Racing

Manager. Lifechanging is a word that comes to mind. And it’s not a job. I’m living my passion. I’m a lucky guy! ”

While ‘Bonji’ as he is known affectionately, spent 35 years living the life of an internationally accomplished champion jockey, with the

tough façade and cucumbercool exterior covering the human frailties within, Anthony admits that being forced to give up race-riding after his accident, almost broke him mentally.

“Racing has given me and my family a wonderful life. But riding at the top level means that one seldom gets to show emotion. You

bottle things up and show the public what you think they want to see. Decades of that restraint imploded in a heap when I learnt that my riding career was over. So I had to seek professional counselling and sort my head out. Being a part of the Hollywood team has been my major therapy and

given my life new purpose. I love it and Make It Snappy took it all to a whole new level on Saturday,” he adds.

Speaking about the Fillies Guineas, Anthony says that he always felt the form was too close to make it a cutand-dried affair and that the favourite was actually beatable.

He says that the draw really left them with only one option.

“From that gate we had to jump, own the space and then dictate from there. Louis Mxothwa rode the perfect race,” he adds.

And so the win was no surprise?

“Ciao Bella is a beautiful specimen and she won the Grade 2 really well. But as I say, the form was close. She had been beaten by Bonika, for instance. And I thought Make It Snappy impressed when winning the Summer Bowl beating the older fillies. Even in receipt of 9kgs, it is not easy walloping older Gr1 horses. Make It Snappy’s biggest asset is her massive stride and the further they went, the further she won by on Saturday. I think she will get 2000m, so that gives us plenty of options. She is having a break this week out at Ridgemont. She is a lovely filly!”

The Hollywood Syndicate’s Happy Chance ran a very decent fifth on Saturday. Anthony says she is taking time and still needs to mature but is another smart sort likely to be seen in action during the SA Champions Season.

“Brett Crawford has done a great job and it’s an honour and privilege to be able to race such beautifully-bred racehorses, thanks to our lease agreement with Ridgemont Highlands.”

Taxed on the Hollywood strategy of buying new stock at the various sales, Anthony indicates that area is where the next target lies. “Our team are putting our heads together and trying to buy quality. And obviously our target is now to buy a Gr1 winner!”

Anthony piloted Noah From Goa to victory in the 2015 Cape Guineas for Mike de Kock. On the syndicate’s 2022 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas candidate Anfields Rocket, he says that it’s all systems go.

Grant Maroun arrives from Randjesfontein on Friday and will be stabled at Milnerton.

Anfields Rocket will be taken to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth next week to have a look at the lefthanded turn, as he has only raced right-handed so far.

“I’m not too concerned about his wide gate. The main contenders also have wide gates. Anfields Rocket is versatile, so he can race from any position. He has won over 1000m and has pace too.

Let’s see, we could find ourselves bringing up the rear with Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey in the run for home. Then it’s about the gaps, luck, ability. We have engaged Gavin Lerena – he is experienced and has the BMT.”

On the subject of jockeys, the 53 year old feels, ‘without boasting’, that his presence on raceday in the pre-race and post-race adds value.

“I have been there and done it. I know we all make mistakes and errors of judgement in races. I don’t mind it when it happens and the jockey admits it. But it’s when they make weak excuses that I am not happy. But it’s onwards and upwards from here!”

WE ARE

The Make It Snappy team celebrate on the podium

The Ridgemont Highlands powerhouse moved into top gear at the second meeting of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing on Saturday when the Robertson nursery of champions bred their second WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner in five renewals as the unexposed Dynasty filly Make It Snappy went all the way for an impressive early career victory.

The victory by the Brett Crawford-trained daughter of iconic Ridgemont Highlands stallion Dynasty – the champion son of Fort Wood’s third winner in the classic after Just Sensual (2016) and the Ridgemont flagbearer Front And Centre (2018) – was an eyecatcher in all respects, with the lovely filly cheekily pricking her ears at the post under elated jockey, and a Gr1 first-timer himself, Louis Mxothwa.

After two decades of commitment, the gamechanging win was also a milestone maiden Grade 1 victory for the Hollywood Syndicate, who race the flyer in a unique bulk lease agreement with Ridgemont Highlands.

The Hollywood Syndicate race many well-bred Ridgemont Highlands horses, with the victory

by the progressive Make It Snappy taking the association to another level, much to the joy of Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications Manager, Devin Heffer.

“It is a really very special moment for all of us to celebrate our first Gr1 winner and we could not have achieved this without Ridgemont Highlands. Our partnership is still in its infancy, but it has effectively accelerated our racing into the top echelon with the opportunity to race these magnificently bred horses. For us it is the stuff that dreams are made of. Hats off and many thanks to Wayne, Craig and Ross Kieswetter who have achieved such incredible things in relatively short time through a passion and professionalism that makes all the difference,”said Devin Heffer, who went on to explain that racing across South Africa in the yellow and purple silks was a means of showcasing their popular brand, while reinvesting back into the sport of kings.

“It’s been quite a year of proud firsts! Five months ago it was the inaugural Hollywoodbets Durban July - and now our first Gr1 winner. Racing Manager Anthony Delpech has assisted in elevating the performance of the Hollywood Syndicate, and all of this is ultimately a tribute to Owen Heffer and his passion. While he never steps into the limelight, it is his dream and hard work that has contributed to a significant impact on racing in both KwaZuluNatal and the Western Cape. From Grooms, to Owners, Trainers, Jockeys and the Horse Care Units,

not a stakeholder has been overlooked. It is something that we are really very proud of! To Ridgemont Highlands and Make It Snappy –thanks again. We look forward to following her fortunes all the way through her racing career, and then into the second phase of her life as an exciting broodmare in the Robertson paddocks!”

Ridgemont Highlands’ Craig Kieswetter echoed the sentiments, and said that he hoped that Make It Snappy was the first of many elite level performers for themselves and Hollywoodbets.

“Our association with Hollywoodbets is founded on a mutual quest to see horseracing prosper and grow. Enjoying a Gr1 success in such a key race on the track, and ultimately in the stud-book, is tremendously satisfying and we are proud to be part in what is a team effort. Make It Snappy has gone down in history for all of us involved. We are proud to have bred her and thrilled that she is a daughter of the legend Dynasty,” concluded Kieswetter.

CHARLES IS TOP OF THE CLASS!

The Cape’s talking horse Charles Dickens heads a sixteen-strong entry, including four visitors, for the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 17 December.

The classic of kings boasts an honour roll of the very best of the sophomore crop over decades and the 2022 renewal promises a vintage contest, with stakes boosted substantially, and local boom horse Charles Dickens making his Gr1 debut as he takes on Gr1 winning fellow Capetonian Cousin Casey,

and Mike de Kock’s recent Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans 1-2 of Union Square and Shoemaker.

But the Hollywoodbets ante-post betting suggests it’s a local boat race of sorts, between Candice Bass-Robinson’s chestnut and Kotzen’s Gr1 winner.

While the summer course levels the playing field, the two Cape kingpins drew wide out, while the De Kock duo got a bit luckier at 5 and 8, respectively.

An interesting prospective runner is Graham Beck Stakes winner Anfields Rocket, who sidestepped the Dingaans as a result of a wide gate, but has had no luck again,

drawing 14 out of 16. He will be ridden by Gavin Lerena.

He is now owned by the high-riding Hollywood Syndicate, who celebrated their first Gr1 success in over 20 years of racing, when Make It Snappy won the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on Saturday.

Supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Friday 9 December.

Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 12 December.

Boom 3yo Charles Dickens – red hot favourite for the classic

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE

Things definitely didn’t go the way of the ‘People’s Horse’ Kommetdieding in Saturday’s R500 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Green Point Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Hemmed to the inside, and left with no cover at a crucial stage, the exciting future Klawervlei stallion was left to play third fiddle to an astute bit of thinking riding by the top-class Aldo Domeyer.

Racing for the first time in a partnership of the Kommetdieding

Syndicate and Ashwin Reynolds, Kommetdieding was expected to go one better after his dazzling low-flying second in the 1200m Bantry Bay Stakes on his eyecatching season debut three weeks earlier.

But on a day where the trend was to swing out to the outside rail on the long summer course run-in, Gavin Lerena and Kommetdieding found themselves exposed to the elements in no man’s land, after Rascallion and Corne Orffer had determinedly stuck to their guns for an inside run.

This created a golden opportunity

for Aldo Domeyer on the fit as a fiddle Trip Of Fortune (16-1), who bounced clear hard against the steel up the outside rail to beat the revitalised Universal (14-1) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 99,17 secs.

The 28-10 favourite Kommetdieding ran his heart out to be beaten a nose into third.

While her legendary Dad Mike won the race three times with Pocket Power over a decade ago, it was a first victory in the traditional

Aldo Domeyer drives Trip Of Fortune to a good win - 3rd placed Kommetdieding chases late

L’Ormarins King’s Plate / Cape Town Met stepping stone for Milnerton trainer Candice Bass-Robinson.

Jockey Aldo Domeyer said that after Trip Of Fortune’s decent, albeit slightly offcolour last effort in the Bantry Bay Stakes, where he ran just under a length off Kommetdieding, the addition of the tongue tie had proven the answer.

“I have never felt him better – this is shades of the promise he showed as a 3yo. He never really used to see the mile out and couldn’t really use his turn of foot over the trip. If he can improve a fraction more, there could be some

nice races in the future,” added Domeyer.

Candice Bass-Robinson said that Trip Of Fortune was breathing heavily after his last run so she decided on a tongue tie.

“He is really very deserving of this win. If we can keep him in this shape, we could enjoy some decent races going forward,” she added.

Owner Gaynor Rupert complimented the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth host and said it was the best racecourse in the world and showing its true colours. She also had a word of advice for the Stipes to punish dangerous riding, in a reference to the incident which affected Trip Of Fortune in the WSB Cape Guineas of 2021.

A son of the superb End Sweep stallion Trippi, Trip Of Fortune is out of the versatile ten-time winning Doowaley mare, Louvre. He is bred and owned by Drakenstein, and is registered as a R750 000 National Yearling Sale graduate.

A multiple stakes winner, Trip Of Fortune has now won 7 races with 3 places from 13 starts for stakes of R868 250.

With Kommetdieding running third, this result knocked the Bipot out of the ball park, with the top two exotic paying a handsome R 30 635 -40!

LEADING OWNER CALLS ON STIPES

Gaynor Rupert receives her WSB Green Point Stakes trophy

Leading owner and breeder Gaynor Rupert is generally very low profile but her call on the Stipendiary Stewards during the post-race interview after Saturday’s World Sports Betting Gr2 Green Point Stakes to properly punish dangerous riding, has attracted some attention.

The Drakenstein owned and bred Trip Of Fortune had just beaten Universal in the traditional L’Ormarins King’s Plate stepping stone, and coincidentally both of these horses were on the receiving end of interference during the 2021 Cape Guineas.

In a short address painted with grace and dignity, Mrs Rupert raised the incident that occurred during the Cape Guineas almost a year ago when she said Trip Of Fortune had been knocked into the rail.

“I don’t blame the trainers, the owners or jockeys if they are allowed to ride like that. But I really do believe it is the responsibility of the Stipes to punish bad riding when it is dangerous. That was the worst day of my racing life and Aldo (Domeyer) could have been killed,” she added.

She went on to say that Trip Of Fortune had been vindicated by his victory on Saturday.

“To win the way he did today and beat these horses showed that he was worthy of his place as favourite in the 2021 Cape Guineas.”

She then went on to remark that it was wonderful to see all the people at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. “I haven’t been here for a while. It’s a beautiful track and the best in the world – and it’s now showing its true colours. Well done to all of those responsible,” she added.

The incident referred to by Mrs Rupert in the Cape Guineas had a

sequel when Jockey Anton Marcus was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7.

The particulars being that as the rider of Double Superlative he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to Universal and Trip Of Fortune when he shifted outwards when insufficiently clear, leaving the 400m in the Gr1 Cape Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 18 December 2021.

Marcus pleaded guilty to the charge and was found guilty as charged. The Inquiry Board, after considering all the factors stated in mitigation and aggravation, imposed a penalty of a suspension from riding in races for a period of eighteen (18) days.

TRIPPI IS TOPS THIS TERM

Drakenstein

stakes winners for his sire.

Trippi’s classy son Trip Of Fortune provided his inform sire with more success on Saturday when he won the G2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes.

Trip Of Fortune, who is out of the Doowaley mare Louvre, is one of 89

South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2015-2016, Trippi also made headlines as a broodmare sire on Saturday.

Dual G1 winner, and proven G1 sire, Liam’s Map (who is out of the Trippi mare Miss Macy Sue) came up with a new graded stakes winner when his four-year-old daughter Dr B won the Gr3 Go For Wand Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Trippi is in the middle of another fantastic season, with the champion’s other flagbearers including unbeaten rising star Charles Dickens. The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas favourite is one of four sons of Trippi entered for the WSB Cape Town Met, with others including multiple Equus Champion Jet Dark, winner of this season’s Gr3 Cape Mile.

Stud’s veteran champion sire Trippi is having an outstanding season.

PRINCESS OF POWER!

Chase Liebenberg

Gavin Lerena times it perfectly as Princess Calla flies up the outside

Class prevailed courtesy of a terrific training feat by Sean Tarry when the 5yo mare Princess Calla returned from a 32 week break following her HSH Princess Charlene Gr1 Empress Club Stakes victory at Turffontein, when she flashed up late to win the R350 000 wsb. co.za Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The well-travelled mare has been all over the country in a variety of yards during her distinguished racing career, and came out firing on all cylinders in what will

go down as an astute move by multiple champion Tarry to ‘run the speed out of her’ before heading to the Sceptre Stakes and her Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival goal of the Gr1 Majorca Stakes on Cape Town Met day.

Allowed to relax by Gavin Lerena as the lightning fast Iphiko went quickly out front, Princess Calla was unleashed at the 250m marker and got up in a thrilling finish.

Princess Calla (5-1) stormed home to beat Iphiko (8-1) and Stiptelik (25-2) in a time of 58,38 secs.

Trainer Sean Tarry felt that his charge would need it and said he was honoured to be given

the honours to guide her through the summer.

Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Princess Calla is by Flower Alley (Distorted Humor)out of the Captain Al mare Princess Royal.

A R600 000 purchase from the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Princess Calla has now won 6 races with 9 places from 16 starts for stakes of R1 967 975.

The RaceCape initiative has proven a winner with the visitors and locals! Here Sean Tarry accepts his cheque from Cape Racing’s Justin Vermaak

Chase Liebenberg

SNAITH’S STRENGTH AT SEA

Navy Strength (Kabelo Matsunyane) is led in by owners Nancy Hossack and Greg Bortz, who are joined by their supporters

A horse who took ten runs to find his maiden victory, the Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty gelding Navy Strength maintained his recent upward curve and showed an appreciation for the stamina test to win the R225 000 Drakenstein Stud Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

With trainer Justin Snaith celebrating his 48th birthday and both owners Greg Bortz and Nancy Hossack on course with their entourages, the pressure was on and the progressive Kabelo Matsunyane delivered the goods as

Navy Strength (17-2) turned on the jets up the outside and cut down the leaders to beat the longshot Master Redoute (25-1) by a half length in a time of 158,06 secs.

In a Place Accumulator knockout, Arctic Drift (16-1) rattled from the clouds to grab third, a further three quarters back in third.

The tote favourite and dtsbalemate to the winner Thefutureisbright (41) faded late along with the other early leaders.

An R800 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Navy Strength is clearly maturing and enjoying the stamina tests. He has now won 3 races with 7 places from 16 starts for stakes of R333 375.

A son of the outstanding Dynasty (Fort Wood), he is out of the high-class Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Spring Lilac (Joshua Dancer) – a half-sister to Equus Champions Bela-Bela and the ill-fated Rabiya.

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth carryover Pick 6 pool on Saturday reached just over R2,8 million –something of a shortfall against the projected R4 million.

DYNASTY’S LEGACY ENDURES

When multiple Equus champion and former SA Horse Of The Year Dynasty passed away over three years ago , Wayne Kieswetter labelled the sad event as ‘not the end – only the beginning’, and suggested that the greatest tribute that could be paid to the sire that elevated the Robertson nursery to new heights, was to continue the great tradition of producing the winners.

That wish has certainly been honoured over the ensuing years.

The sire-of-sires, a broodmare sire of some standing, and an industry icon labelled the ‘gift that keeps on giving’, was in the news at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth again on Saturday with a glorious feature double that included Dynasty’s third Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner in seven renewals of the time-honoured classic.

Ridgemont Highlands’ Craig Carey expressed the sentiment of the whole team when he said that Dynasty was a champion that they all missed terribly.

“The great son of Fort Wood has left his enormous legacy in the lovely fillies and mares that the

farm still owns. The Dynasty influence is a thread of pure gold that will endure for generations to come. What an honour it is to be a part of history in the making,” added the veteran breeder.

One of three daughters of Dynasty in the illustrious 2022 renewal of the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, Make It Snappy became the second Ridgemont Highlands homebred to win the fairer sex classic in four years when she led from pillar to post to score an emphatic victory, her third in a row, at only her fourth

The smashing Front And Centre – Ridgemont Highlands’ 2018 Cape Fillies Guineas winner

racetrack appearance. She is out of the Western Winter mare Icy Winter Air.

To add to the Dynasty achievement, Saturday’s Cape Fillies Guineas runnerup, and recent Gr2 winner Ciao Bella is out of Dynasty’s multiple Equus champion daughter, Bela-Bela!

In 2018 the Ridgemont Highlands team celebrated the victory of yet another of their top achieving

homebreds when Dynasty’s undefeated daughter Front And Centre won the Cape Fillies Guineas. The half- sister to Ridgemont Highlands Gr1 winner sire Potala Palace (Singspiel), is out of the UK Gr3 placed Alzao mare, Alignment.

Dynasty’s feature double started earlier on Saturday when his son Navy Strength scored his maiden graded stakes success with an eyecatching victory in the Drakenstein Stud Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap.

Trying ground for the first time, the 4yo, who is out of the well-related Joshua Dancer mare Spring Lilac, relished the 2500m trip and looks likely to give owners Greg Bortz and Nancy Hossack plenty of pleasure in the season that lies ahead.

SNAPPY GOES TO 115

Make It Snappy has had her merit rating raised from 100 to 115 after her success in the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Handicappers took the view that second placed Ciao Bella made for the ideal line horse after again beating all of those that finished behind her when she won a Grade 2 event three weeks earlier, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 110.

There were increases also for 3rd placed Hold My Hand and 4th finisher

Golden Hostess, who are both up to 108 from 102 and 106, respectively. Happy Chance goes up from 93 to 106.

There were no ratings drops for any runners in this event.

• Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes

Princess Calla remains unchanged on a mark of 121 after landing the wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Here it was 4th placed Santa Maria that was deemed to make for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 106. In

assessing the race this way Princess Calla only runs to a rating of 112, hence her unchanged mark.

There were increases also for runner-up Iphiko and 3rd placed Stiptelik, who both go up to 107 from 96 and 92, respectively. Furthermore, Bella Chela goes up from 105 to 106, and lastly Going Up was raised from 98 to 100.

The only drop was for Gimme Dat, who is down from 109 to 107.

Candice Bass-Robinson enjoyed another good day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday

• Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes

Trip Of Fortune remains unaltered on a rating of 119 after he captured the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stake over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. It was Trip Of Fortune himself who was considered to make for the best line horse, hence his unchanged rating.

The only ratings increase was for runner-up Universal, who was raised from 114 to 116, but there were drops for three horses.

4th placed Golden Ducat down from 128 to 125, Rascallion is down to 122 from 124, and last Pomp

and Power drops from 118 to 116.

• Gr3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap

Navy Strength has had his rating raised from 91 to 99 after he won the Grade 3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

It was runner-up Master Redoute who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 99. A large part for the increase for the winner lies in the fact that Navy Strenth was 6 pounds or 3 kgs under sufferance at the weights. Add to this the minimum 2 pound or 1 kg upward adjustment that any handicap winner must receive and Navy Strength had to be raised no less

than the eight pounds by which his rating was raised.

3rd placed Arctic Drift, who was 3 pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, goes up from 91 to 93, having finished one pound behind the line horse. The only other increase was for 4th placed Thefutureisbright, who goes up to 95 from 93.

There were drops for three horses. Crome Yellow is down from 109 to 106, Rex Union was trimmed from 105 to 104, and last Follow The Star drops from 97 to 95.

• Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 6 December 2022

ONE FOR THE BLACK BOOK

The Ridgemont Highlands team are riding the crest of a summer season wave and launched their sensational Grade 1 champagne day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with an eyecatching winning return to action after a long break by their handsome Snitzel colt, Veldskoen, in the opening event.

An athletic bay, the handsome Veldskoen is a

shining example of the Kieswetter philosophy of combining best with best and breeding to Southern Hemisphere time from the passionate racing family’s Barnane Stud in Tipperary Co, Ireland.

As a son of the multiple champion Australian sire-of-sires Snitzel, Veldskoen’s win at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday will go down as a satisfying endorsement of patience for the whole team.

He is out the well-performed fivetime winning Iffraaj mare, Belle

Miraaj, who ran third in the Gr1 NZ 1000 Guineas of her year, and could well be comfortable at a mile, despite showing scintillating pace on Saturday.

Narrowly beaten on his Hollywoodbets Durbanville debut in September 2021 by subsequent Gr3 winner Winchester Mansion, Veldskoen returned after a 63 week break on Saturday to deliver a galloping lesson to his fifteen rivals.

Veldskoen (Louis Mxothwa) gallops on relentlessly in an impressive comeback performance

Jockey Louis Mxothwa rode a supremely confident race, despite the reality of possible ring-rustiness and whispers about a few of the other runners.

“I always had it in the back of my mind that the opposition could be fitter, and that there were a few highly regarded gallopers in the field. But he was cruising early and I knew what he had done at home. I was frankly never worried!” enthused the progressive rider, who was to register a maiden Gr1 success later in the day.

Trainer Brett Crawford said that Velskoen had always been a talent, and had shown plenty in work – but

conceded that he still had a lot to learn about the exciting colt.

“He had the setback after his first run. But his standing here today in the winner’s enclosure is a massive credit to a patient team effort that started with the Vets who did the tieback operation, and then through to Ross and Julie at Ridgemont Wellington, who did the groundwork and training on the farm before Veldskoen came back into the yard,” added the Philippi conditioner.

A pleased Ross Kieswetter said that Veldskoen’s return was most satisfying and that thanks to the collective efforts of the Barnane, Ridgemont and Crawford Racing teams, he had enjoyed a seamless return to action.

“It shows we are doing something

right and that we have the people and facilities to ensure that our horses are given the very best opportunity to race to their full potential. And I think on what we have seen so far, Veldskoen is an exciting 4yo and a horse worth following,” he concluded.

While the future programme of the 4yo son of Australia’s world-class history-making multiple Champion Sire remains flexible, the manner of his return victory and the athletic package suggests that the patience of the Kieswetter family will yet be well rewarded.

He is one for the black book!

GOLD RUSH - THE LATEST LOG

The R7,5 million Gold Rush will be run over 1600m on Cape Met day, 28 January 2023, and is based on the same principle as The Everest in Australia.

vThe race is opens to graduates 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

The race is owned by the 16 slot holders, who will be looking to include their own horse, or even to

do a deal with the owners of the horses on the log.

Dave The King ranks second on the latest log

Chase

The latest log:

MARSH HAS AN EYE FOR GOLD

Leading owner Marsh Shirtliff acquired Prospectors Ticket Number One for the R7,5million WSB Gold Rush over 1600m on Met Day, 28 January 2023.

With a bit of luck, he’ll be going to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the big day

with an interest in more than one runner in this rich event. As it turns out, he may also have tahree or even four runners in the WSB Met itself.

“For the Gold Rush, I have shares in Hammies Hero, Le Mans and Max The Otter. They are all in good early positions on the log. Depending on negotiations with

other ticket holders, I can have more than one runner in this novel race. The dealmaking behind the scenes is one of the reasons this race was conceptualised and it is exciting, we are getting closer to the business end now,” said Marsh.

KZN BREEDERS HONOUR THEIR STARS

The KZN Breeders Awards for 2022 were held at a festive function at the regular venue of the Nottingham Road Hotel on Saturday evening.

Times are tough across the country, but a passionate spirit prevailed and the party went on until late.

Stalwarts Mick and Cheryl Goss’s Summerhill Stud continue to perform in the top echelons and their products dominated a number of categories,

including the Breeders Achievement Award.

The winners included a standout category for Bloomhill Stud broodmare Wysiwyg, who is the dam of both Gr1 male sprint nominees, Bohica and Bartholdi.

Western Winter stallion Capetown Noir enjoyed a sterling year with both Under Your Spell and Bohica capturing Gr1 wins in the year.

In the 'human' categories, Piemonte Stud's Lee Scribante, a former Chairman of KZN Breeders and a man who has moved to

Knysna and called it a day, was honoured with a Lifetime Acheivement Award, while popular Gallop TV Presenter Warren Lenferna was knocked off his feet in a rare moment of speechlessness when awarded the Anita Akal Trophy.

Lenferna, who is a tireless voice and supporter of the KZN Breeders, is often seen giving of his free time and the award was popularly received.

Hollywoodbets' Venal Naidu with multiple award winners Cheryl and Mick Goss

Each category winner is followed by the breeder's name:

Champion 2YOsponsored by The Equine Group

• Gimme A Shot K Soal

Champion 3YOsponsored by Equifeeds

• Under Your Spell Summerhill Stud

Champion Older Malesponsored by Epol Horse Feeds

• Mk's Pride Summerhill Stud

Champion Older Femalesponsored by Gold Circle

• Winter Smoke RT Fitzgerald

Champion Sprinter Malesponsored by Choice Carriers

• Bohica Summerhill Stud

Champion Sprinter Femalesponsored by Odds On Colours

• Winter Smoke RT Fitzgerald

Champion Middle Distance Male - sponsored by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds

• Mk's Pride Summerhill Stud

Champion Middle Distance Female - sponsored by Hollywoodbets

Under Your Spell Summerhill Stud

Broodmare Of The Yearsponsored by Gold Circle

• Wysiwyg

Stallion Of The Yearsponsored by TBA

• Capetown Noir

Breeders Achievement - sponsored by Almary Veterinary Practice

• Summerhill Stud

Lifetime Membership Award

• Lee Scribante

Anita Akal Award

• Warren Lenferna

Horse Of The Yearsponsored by Gold Circle

• MK's Pride

Lee Scribante was honoured with a Lifetime Membership Award

Candiese Lenferna

CURTAIN COMES DOWN ON PIEMONTE

Piemonte Stud have dispersed their breeding operation and saw a top price of R340 000 for a beautifully bred yearling by Gimmethegreenlight out of Carlita at the sale hosted by Bloodstock South Africa on Thursday last week.

Aptly named Carlita’s Best, the dam is a Piemontebred and raced daughter of Oratorio, voted the Eastern Cape’s Champion 2YO Filly of her generation with two Listed wins amongst her six victories. This is the family of sire Spring Halo. The colt sold to Wendy Whitehead.

The top broodmare of

the sale was knocked down to Tommy Crowe for R300 000. Originally a R300 000 National 2YO Sale purchase by Piemonte, the Gimmethegreenlight mare is in foal to Malmoos and has a Danon Platina foal at foot.

A half-sister to True Master, Beataboutthebush won eight races for the Scribante family including three Listed races. This is the family of Do It Again and Dancewiththedevil.

Herrin, also Champion 2YO Filly of her year in the Eastern Cape, sold for R240 000, covered by Heavenly Blue for the season. The daughter of Querari out of a Fort Wood mare hails from the family of Señor Santa and Flight Alert. She sold to Owloon Horses.

The top buyers were Owloon, purchasing five horses for an average of R104 000 each, followed by Wendy Whitehead averaging R143 333. 48 Horses sold for an aggregate of R2 636 000.

Piemonte boss Lee Scribante was honoured with a Lifetime Membership Award at the KZN Breeders annual awards on Friday evening.

Please see the full sales list here.

Top broodmare - Beataboutthebush

WAS LUNGA SOLD DOWN THE RIVER?

The National Horseracing Authority has come under the spotlight for what has been labelled a poorly worded and irresponsible media release.

Following numerous complaints from its members, Chairman Tony Rivalland says that the South African National Trainers Association has strongly condemned the irresponsible manner in which the Lunga Gila release was issued.

The national trainer body believes it is incumbent on the racing regulator to ensure communication for public consumption regarding any licensed member or privilege holder does not have any nefarious, prejudiced or derogatory connotations in it, as this not only brings racing into disrepute but potentially harms the reputation of the parties involved.

SANTA says that the initial press release issued by the NHA around the licencing suspension of trainer L Gila was poorly worded and irresponsible, in that it

intimated Mr Gila had been implicated in an unlawful activity relating to the administration of medication to his horses, and as a result had relinquished his license.

Click here to read the press release

While a letter was sent to Mr Gila many hours later by the NHA GM, Mr Moodley, with the explanation provided that the term was apparently ‘generic’ and should have been taken to

mean ‘interim suspension’, this was only after he questioned the wording of the press release which he vehemently objected to as he had not relinquished his license.

The board of SANTA concur with the disgust expressed by many members as the implication of Mr Gila’s possible involvement in a serious infringement of the rules was evident because the statement did not clarify that the rules of the NHA do not provide for a license to be granted to any person if they are unable to provide to the licensing committee the location of stabling and training facilities to be utilised which is acceptable to them.

In this instance, Mr Gila

believed it to be in his best interests to cancel his lease at Randjesfontein in order to sever the toxic and irregular relationship which had developed between himself and his sole client, who he quite correctly believed was acting in serious contravention of the rules, potentially causing him to be implicated therein.

Click here to read what Mr Gila told the Sporting Post

The board of SANTA strongly condemns the irresponsible manner in which the release was issued and believe it is incumbent on the regulator to ensure communication for public consumption regarding any licensed member or privilege holder does not have any nefarious, prejudiced or derogatory connotations in it as this not only brings racing into disrepute but potentially harms

the reputation of the parties involved.

In this instance, an interim suspension was normal practice until the stabling matter was cleared to their satisfaction and this fact should have been clearly stated.

Lunga Gila is well-respected by his fellow colleagues and recognised as a talented and hardworking person and this depiction could be damaging to him, particularly while in the process of trying to establish his training career.

• Statement issued by SANTA Chairman Tony Rivalland on Saturday 3 December 2022.

GTH WINS EVENT OF THE YEAR

On 1 December 2022, scores of socialites, influencers and horse racing fans flocked to Durban’s iconic Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse for a thrilling first Global Team Horse Racing Series (GTH) in August and September, witnessing what Hollard has just crowned sport’s 2022 Event of the Year.

GTH series organisers

thank Durban fans for contributing to a phenomenal first series;

Inaugural season at Hollywoodbets Greyville recognised in two prestigious Sports Industry Awards categories; and

Organisers talk of expanded series in 2023, plus a new digital Meta. Horse race addition.

The GTH Live Series was

nominated in two 2022 Hollard Sports Industry Awards categories: Event of the Year and Audio-Visual Content of the Year.

The GTH pilot live series stormed into Durban on August 5 after two years of trials. Live race meetings were held every Friday evening under floodlights in the build up to a dramatic season finale on September 2, 2022.

The KwaZulu Royals take home the winning trophy for the GTH Live Series 2022

A game-changer

Similar to the T20 cricket format, the GTH live series targeted families and sports fans who had never watched or experienced a horse racing event using exciting track-side entertainment, an easy-to-follow points scoring system, and worldclass racing performances.

Races were added to the official Gold Circle calendar,

which boosted Durban’s race season purse considerably.

Hollard’s Sports Industry Awards seeks to honour and congratulate sport industry innovators. Two new categories were added this year to reflect the novel and exciting ways that the sports industry has responded to post-Covid challenges. Eligible campaigns for entry included work completed between August 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022.

Modernising horse racing

GTH is an entirely new, team-based horse racing format with roots in the UK.

Horse racing has traditionally been an individual sport, however, the novel GTH team-based format sees teams of jockeys and horses riding against one another to accrue points for every race

Angus Campbell, Marketing Director of GTH, giving his acceptance speech at the Hollard Sports Industry Awards with the GTH team

GTH

win and draw. At the end of every series, the team with the most points takes the crown.

Steve Ajax, GTH CEO, said 2022 had been a hugely successful year for the brand and that the first series in Durban had been well received.

“It (the Hollard award nominations) is an endorsement of the outstanding efforts of our exceptional team, which started from scratch and built an event that has generated worldwide interest. The commitment at all levels was incredible. We are looking forward to an expanded series

in 2023,” Ajax said.

Angus Campbell, GTH Marketing Director, added: “It has been an exceptionally successful year for GTH with the completion of the pilot live series. We have learnt so much during 2022 and getting awarded Event of the Year is a huge positive for GTH and for racing. However, there is a long way to go, and we will keep pushing boundaries in everything we do.”

While race goers and South African families can look forward to more exhilarating entertainment at next year’s running, a digital element will also be introduced in 2023.

Ajax said: “There is plenty more to come next year as, alongside our events, we have set our sights

on the Metaverse with our groundbreaking digital offer, Meta.Horse, a holistic horse racing experience based on our unique GTH format.”

For more information about GTH and Meta.Horse, visit www.gthracing.co.za

Editorial Release by GTH on 5 December 2022.

GTH action at hollywoodbets Greyville

OUIJA’S LEGACY LIVES ON

The thoroughbred industry lost a true champion last week with the death of star racemare and producer Ouija Board (Cape Cross).

The charismatic mare was 21 years old at the time of death. A globetrotting champion, Ouija Board was another fine example of a star race mare who did well when retired to stud.

A champion on two

continents, Ouija Board was Cartier Horse Of The Year in both 2004 and 2006.

Raced from two to five years, Ouija Board won ten races, with seven of her victories coming at the top level.

The globetrotting star, who raced in all of Britain, Ireland, Dubai, France, North America and Hong Kong, captured both the Gr1 Vodafone Oaks and Gr1 Darley Irish Oaks of, before going on to land the G1 Breeders’Cup Filly &

Mare Turf at the end of the same year.

Ouija Board, who would repeat her Breeders’ Cup win in 2006, but put up arguably her finest performance when victorious in the 2006 Gr1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, retired to stud in 2007.

Sent to Kingmambo in her first season, Ouija Board produced ill-fated Gr3 MRC Easter Cup winner Our

The beautiful Ouija Board at stud

Voodoo Prince. Sent to Dubawi in 2012, Ouija Board came up with talented Godolphin Stakes winner, and sire Frontiersman. The latter emulated his dam when he finished second in the Gr1 Coronation Cup, with Ouija Board finishing second to Shirocco in the 2006 Coronation Cup and Frontiersman beaten less than two lengths by seven time Gr1 winner Highland Reel in the 2017 Coronation Cup.

However, Ouija Board really hit gold at stud when she was sent to Highland Reel’s sire Galileo in 2010. That mating resulted in a top-class racehorse, and successful sire, Australia. That striking chestnut never ran out of the first three in his eight starts with Australia victorious in all of the Gr1 Investec Derby, Gr1 Dubai

Duty Free Irish Derby and Gr1 Juddmonte International in 2014.

Retired to Coolmore in 2015, Australia has sired more than 30 stakes winners, headed by the Gr1 winners Order Of Australia, Broome, Galileo Chrome, Mare Australis, and Ocean Road.

Australia also made news at the recent Tattersalls December Mare Sale, where his high-class daughter Tranquil Lady was knocked down for 2 700 000 guineas. A very smart performer, and half-sister to the now retired four time Gr1 winner State Of Rest (Starspangledbanner), Tranquil Lady, who is from the same female line as former Gr1 Summer Cup runner up Majestic Mozart, was a group winner in both France (Gr3 Prix de Flore) and Ireland (Blue Wind Stakes).

Ouija Board was one of a select band of English Oaks winning mares who have gone on to

produce an English Derby winner at stud. Other Oaks winning mares to have achieved such a feat include Snow Bride (dam of Lammtarra), Blink Bonny (dam of Blair Athol), Meld (dam of Charlottown), Sorcery (dam of Cadland), and Rosedrop (dam of Gainsborough).

Ouija Board, whose sire Cape Cross also sired English Derby winners Sea The Stars and Golden Horn, also had ties to South Africa.

When she ran third in the 2006 Gr1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Ouija Board was beaten by South African champion Irridescence (Caesour), while the late mare hailed from the same female line as South African based mare Ubiquitous Mantle (Alhaarth), dam of the useful Motown Magic (Uncle Mo).

The credits at the base of her statue

Stanley House Stud

KARIS IS GLAD TO BE BACK

Karis Teetan returned to the saddle at Happy Valley today after spending the past 21 local fixtures on the sidelines due to illness.

Teetan, 32, collected five wins from the first three race meetings this season in September before his untimely interval. The Mauritian – who took four mounts today – is buoyed by his reunion with Panfield this coming Sunday and the

support of those around him.

“It was a long two and a half months of just waiting at home and recovering slowly,” Teetan said. “I needed to be patient and with everyone’s support, the Club’s support and the doctors – finally everything has returned to normal and things are looking good.

“I used to wake up with my heart rate at 180, now I’m waking up on 40-something. Monday (5 December) I had a workout in the

afternoon and before it could hit 200, now again, it’s 90-something after hard work.

“When we first found out they thought it was a hypothyroid or Graves’ disease but every single test was coming back negative. I saw the doctor a few weeks ago and she treated me for an inflamed thyroid. She says it is very rare but she believes that it is an

Karis reunites with his old pal Panfield in the HK$22 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase on Sunday

inflamed thyroid due to getting COVID.”

Teetan’s return comes on the undercard of the 2022 LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley – the very competition he won for the first time in 2019.

“It’s a fantastic night to return, we’re going to see some great jockeys around and I’m really looking forward to it – again I’m just thankful for all of the support from everyone,” Teetan said.

Teetan will kick off his return aboard So You Trust in the Class 4 Australia Handicap (1650m) before reuniting with Murray’s Partners in the Class 5 France Handicap (1650m).

Teetan also hops aboard Super Dobbin for Tony Millard in the Class 4 New Zealand Handicap (1200m). He’ll close out the evening atop Superbella in the Class 2 United Kingdom Handicap (1800m).

“Superbella comes in with a light weight, he hasn’t proven it yet in the class but if we get some luck in the run anything can happen. Super Dobbin comes down in class, he’s been working really well and Murray’s Partners, it could be a bit short for him, although, he gets down in class too

but at the end of the day, I’m just happy to be back – it’s a good start,” Teetan said.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Teetan takes a pair of rides in the Group 1 races, teaming with Panfield in the HK$22 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) before linking with Savvy Nine in the HK$34 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

Teetan won the 2021 Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) aboard Panfield.

“He’s been doing so well, in his preparation and in the mornings, he has been preparing himself so well and I just think he needs to bring that to the races and show his form again.

“He’s lost his form lately but we galloped him and he felt really good, so if he brings his form on the big day on Sunday then I think he should be competitive,” Teetan said.

Teetan remains wary of the opposition – including Glory Vase, Senor Toba and Stone Age – as Panfield chases a return to his best form.

“It’s going to be a tough race but I know this horse, he can see (out) the 2400 metres on his good day and if he brings his form and gets the right run, then I don’t see why he should not be competitive,” Teetan said.

Savvy Nine might only be a onetime winner from 37 starts in

Hong Kong but the Anodin gelding has shown a stack of consistency, with his career-best outing returning second to stablemate Russian Emperor in the 2022 GR1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

“He’s working good, he’s been running well in the handicap races but of course now it’s going to be tough for him but he’s the kind of horse who is a mystery, if he gets the right run then he can run well and he can perform. I think Douglas (Whyte) has the horse flying now, so I just hope he can run well,” Teetan said.

This weekend’s HK$110 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races features four Group 1 races: HK$34 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$30 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$24 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and HK$22 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

EDWARDSTONE CROWNED TWO-MILE KING!

A vintage Tingle Creek, with the returning Champion Chaser Shishkin and last year’s winner Greaneteen in the line-up. The good-to-soft ground at Sandown ensured they all stood their ground and the Alan King trained Edwardstone, last season’s leading UK novice chaser, proving too good for his rivals when storming home 9-lengths clear of Greaneteen.

The race delivered with Edwardstone's stunning come from behind victory which vindicated trainer Alan King withdrawing the eight-year-old from

his intended start at

Ascot a fortnight ago due to unsuitable ground. There were no excuses from champion trainer Paul Nicholls who stated post-race that the runner-up had run his race but was beaten by a better horse on the day.

More concerning was the race run by the third placed runner, last season’s champion 2-mile chaser Shishkin. He finished a disappointing 15-lengths back. He made a slow start, was niggled along constantly by jockey Nico de Boinville and made a huge error at the Pond fence.

After all that went wrong in the Champion Chase at the end of last

season and now over the weekend shows that Nicky Henderson’s brilliant two miler needs to step up in trip.

The Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham over 2 and a half miles could be his new target.

Last season's Champion Bumper saw its form boosted even more on Saturday, with the winner Facile Vega and fifth placed Authorised Speed both winning impressively in their respective races over hurdles at Fairyhouse and Sandown.

Edwardstone won this year's Arkle Chase and looks set to challenge for another Cheltenham Festival win

They both enhanced their lofty reputations, and they should be top-level winners over hurdles this season and beyond. Gary Moore said the Tolworth Hurdle was likely to be Authorised Speed's next race, while Facile Vega, already a shortpriced favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is headed for all the top novice hurdle contests.

On a wet and windy Sunday afternoon at Fairyhouse, everything was set for history, but the great mare Honeysuckle saw her unblemished record broken

with a shock defeat in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

She had won the Group 1 contest over the previous three years, but the star mare looked as if she lacked her usual zest and emptied out after jumping the last marginally in front to finish a heart breaking third, fighting on all the way to the line.

After they cleared the last, Klassical Dream under Paul Townend and the Jack Kennedyridden Teahupoo pulled clear to fight out the finish.

The great mare fought on but couldn’t quicken and Teahupoo

finished best to land the spoils by a neck from the Willie Mullins inmate.

It was a triumph that crowned a wonderful day for Jack Kennedy and trainer Gordon Elliott, yet a stunned silence had fallen over the 7,444 in attendance at Fairyhouse. Regular rider Rachael Blackmore was disconsolate: “She has been incredible and it's just disappointing that this day had to come.”

Richard Gibson has confirmed it is “all systems go” for Wellington as Ryan Moore looks forward to taking the ride aboard the crack sprinter in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Sprint.

Wellington, who pulled up lame after his sixth in last

month’s Group Two Jockey Club Sprint under Alexis Badel, passed a recent veterinary examination and is fighting fit ahead of his tilt at a fourth elite-level victory.

“Richard is happy with him, and I’m looking forward to riding him,” Moore said.

Moore, who won the 2020 Sprint

aboard Japan’s Danon Smash, will ride Wellington for the first time after his regular rider, Badel, suffered shoulder and ankle injuries in a fall last month

A MOMENT OF MAGIC!

Netherlands vs Argentina | Friday 9 December | Lusail Iconic Stadium | 21:00

Argentina will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the World Cup at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Friday night.

The quarter-final will be a repeat of the classic 1998 quarter-final which the Dutch won courtesy of a Dennis Bergkamp 90thminute winner. The two nations also faced each other in the 2014 semi-finals – a game Argentina won on penalties.

The Albiceleste are the favourites to claim a win at odds of 5/4 with Hollywoodbets. The Dutch, meanwhile, are available at 49/20 to win, with the draw at 22/10.

To Win

Netherlands 49/20 Draw 22/10 Argentina 5/4

To Qualify

Netherlands 12/10 Argentina 6/10 Netherlands

The Netherlands, three-time runners-up, are bidding to end their wait for a first World Cup trophy as they push to win the Qatar 2022 tournament.

The Dutch navigated their way past hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in the group stages, finishing top of Group A with seven points from three games.

Louis van Gaal's side then faced the United States in the round of 16 and secured progression with an impressive 3-1 victory. Memphis Depay and Daley Blind scored in the first half and Denzel Dumfries added a late goal for the Oranje.

Depay has been the focal point of attack for the Dutch, but the Barcelona forward only has one goal to his name thus far.

Netherlands will depend on Cody Gakpo for the goals as the forward has been one of the best players in the tournament and amongst the top when it comes to the goal charts. Gakpo has three goals so far at this World Cup.

At the back, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake will be tasked with building a wall to deny Lionel Messi and co a chance at goal.

Argentina

Argentina reached the quarterfinals after leading Group C and beating Australia 2-1 in the round of 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with Netherlands.

The Dutch will no doubt be a stiff challenge for Argentina, but confidence is high that Lionel Scaloni's side can go all the way in Qatar and finally provide Messi with the World Cup trophy that he craves so much before the

curtain comes down on his incredible career.

Messi, who has three goals to his name, is the favourite to open the scoring at 4/1 and is priced at 33/20 to score at any time in this fixture. With Messi on the pitch, the Albiceleste will more than fancy their chances of making it into the semi-finals.

The focus of Argentina’s attentions in the coming days will be getting Angel Di Maria fit after he was forced to miss the Australia win. Scaloni will be desperate to have the veteran winger back to replace Papu Gomez and complete his attack, with Julian Alvarez set to maintain his spot in the XI to join Messi.

Prediction: Argentina (5/4)

Argentina have the edge when it comes to talent, and maybe a moment of magic will settle this